The Lumber Room Essay Questions

What role does defiance play in "The Lumber Room"?

As one of the story's dominant themes, defiance plays a major role in "The Lumber Room." From the beginning of the story, Nicholas defies his aunt's wishes for good behavior and a deferential attitude toward her authority. While the other children obey her authority and calmly eat their breakfasts of bread and milk, Nicholas brings a frog in from the garden and complains about it being in his bowl. Nicholas continues to defy his aunt when she expects him to cry as the other children make their way to the beach. Instead of crying, Nicholas chuckles at the sound of his cousin weeping in the carriage. Defiance arises next when the aunt increases his punishment by not letting him access the gooseberry garden. Nicholas knows she expects him to defy her, and he uses that expectation of defiance to his benefit, fooling her into staying outside to prevent him from getting into the garden. While she is distracted, Nicholas enjoys the delights of the lumber room, defying his aunt's restriction against children entering the room. At the end of the story, Nicholas continues to use defiance to undermine his aunt's authority, refusing to help her out of the rain-water tank. Because she told him earlier that he was not allowed into the gooseberry garden, he argues, he cannot fetch a ladder to help her escape. By pretending to adhere to the initial rule, Nicholas manages to defy her wishes yet again.

In what ways does "The Lumber Room" suggest that children can be more intelligent than adults?

"The Lumber Room" shows how adults insecure about their own authority can misunderstand a child's mentality and needs. In the story, Saki depicts Nicholas as a mischievous and shrewd boy who excels in annoying his aunt, largely through predicting her actions and feelings. When Nicholas's brother and cousins are taken to Jagborough, Nicholas does not cry, because he is perfectly aware that him being upset is the very thing that his aunt wants. Although a child in such as situation is expected to react by weeping, Nicholas refrains from such behavior because he is mature enough to understand the circumstances of the punishment. Similarly, Nicholas's entry into the lumber room is a carefully planned mission, which shows that he is organized and is capable of devising a strategic plan—qualities an adult would possess. Nicholas had even practiced turning a key in a keyhole of a door prior to entering the lumber room. When Nicholas gains access to the room, he makes sure to sprinkle some dust on the old books after going through them so they do not appear to have been disturbed. Ultimately, Nicholas's intelligence makes it possible for him to subvert his aunt's authority and have a thoroughly enjoyable day despite being grounded.

What does the lumber room symbolize?

The lumber room at the center of the story is a symbol of Nicholas's imagination. Although lumber rooms would have been common enough in Edwardian homes—little more than a storeroom of furniture and possessions not currently in use in the rest of the home—the lumber room takes on mythical proportions in Nicholas's imagination. Because children are not allowed to see what is in the lumber room, Nicholas assumes it is a repository of treasures, and, once he gains entry, he finds the room meets his expectations. He marvels at the delicate and beautiful objects that lie within, such as a fire-screen tapestry, candlesticks shaped like snakes, a teapot in the shape of a duck, and a book of illustrated birds. Ensconced in the magic of the lumber room, Nicholas uses his imagination to think about what fate will befall the huntsman on the fire screen. He also invents a life story for the colorful mandarin duck in the picture book. The imaginative potential of the lumber room stays with Nicholas until the end of the story. While everyone else sits miserably at the table, Nicholas imagines further outcomes for the huntsman, believing the man and his dogs might escape the approaching wolves.